Friday, May 18, 2012

In the past two weeks, multiple readers have sent us emails asking if we had seen a woman walking around the neighborhood topless.

We had not. And we had not seen any photographic evidence of this.

Until now.

Here is a photo via ‏@AskWass ... who noted in a tweet last evening: "Topless girl is Just wandering the east village on this lovely Thursday."

One reader believes that she is simply reminding people that women have the same right as men to appear topless in public. (We don't know for sure if that is her intention. If she would like to contact us via the EV Grieve email ...)

In fact, it has been legal for woman to go topless in New York City since 1992.

Updated:
A reader passed along this photo from outside Whole Foods on Union Square ...

i have an intuitive feeling, just a hunch perhaps, that this posting may be one of the more censored areas for comments; it could possibly win the record for the most censored post... ;) as a test, i will post this comment to see if it indeed ever makes it to a published state.

hooray! not censored! i can go back to my regular duties. i will just be careful not to express my actual feelings on topic and appear to completely agree with all the above comments in their absolute and unerring positivity.

I saw a topless woman walking around last week on 22nd b/t park and broadway with a mustache drawn on her face too. pants and a hat and a camera around her neck.... not the same woman though. is this a thing?

@Uri no one is saying you can't wear shorts, skirts, pumps or ill-fitting jeggings on the streets in NYC if that is your desire.

Most women who work in offices are not allowed to wear "dress shorts" to work either; depending on how conservative the workplace is we can't wear open-toe shoes or bare legs either. If you don't like the dress code requirements of your office, then find a new place to work.

Has anyone talked to any of these ladies? No point in baseless speculation. For most women walking around in public - much less NYC - is something straight out of a bad dream. There must be a good reason if multiple women are doing this...right?

Why are women still walking around topless? Because you're still asking that question.

It's completely legal. if a male-bodied person did it no questions would be asked. If it was a fat male-bodied person with breasts the same size as hers, no questions would be asked. If she was breast feeding, fewer questions would be asked. Stop sexualizing body parts that are not solely intended for your pleasure. If breasts are still so shocking to you, maybe you should worry about that instead.

I think we need four or five more comments pointing out that Holly Van Voast is someone else and the above photos are not her. Because if people can't be bothered to read all the previous comments pointing this out, a few more repetitions are certain to get the point across!

(That said, the mere fact that some guys are incapable of telling apart two women who look nothing alike simply because they both go out topless says something all by itself.)

net effect: i guess new york city is much a safer place these days. irony is she would never get stop and frisked by NYPD in a million years but if she was a fully clothed hispanic or black male it would be a vastly different result.

I have a pic of her on my blog under an Occupy post in Union square..everyone ran over to see her and get their pic taken with her. She's really quiet and seems nice. Just seems to want to walk around topless all the time. She was fine with everyone taking pics and a huge crowd around her for over an hour.

What I find most striking about this is that she looks.... well, normal. Many of the women who do these topless "protests" (awareness rallies?) are overweight, bodily-pierced, goth, or otherwise weird, or any combination of those traits. This girl looks like some normal woman you might find behind the reception desk at your office.

Got it, she's making a statement that woman should be allowed to go topless anywhere where a guy can be topless. But has anyone seen any man or men without a shirt in the streets or sidewalks while grocery shopping, doing errands, etc? Hardly. Thus, no shirts no shoes, no dice. At parks or beaches while sunbathing, yes. But I guess in her case, no shirt + shoes = exceptional service!

My name is Holly Van Voast and I have been going around topless for almost a year very heavily. One commenter posted about Moira here having worn a mustache before when seen, but that was actually me. You can follow me on facebook or twitter (lensjockey).., and I have lots and lots of videos that I have made because my intention has been to not really focus on the legal topless issues because after those go away, what are people ging to do? I went further and created a topless entertainment character called Harvey Van Toast the topless paparazzo and have been going around the city and taking my top off in court and in front of Bill Clinton, Bill Cosby, Tracy Morgan... james Cameron and just recently Robert Downey Jr... more and more and more... I mean I have covered the city, and I still am, I am on the subways alllll the time. There is tons of online and print press about me too. google NYT topless court Holly Van Voast, for the court incident, or just google "topless paparazzo" I've been trying to set up a reality show about NYC.I have been doing unpaid promotions for a drag scene that rocks — google "BacKspace Performance Ensemble" and "SALIVA Tuesdays at the Ritz." My videos are on Youtube at lensjockeyvideo.

I think it's great campaign...if that's the intention....there have been women who have had tops forcefully "pulled" over them and then handcuffed by the NYPD even though they were being told by pedestrians that what the women were doing was legal.I've also read where the topless scenario was used as breast cancer awareness...my only objection is (as prior stated) No shoes,No Shirt,No Service......she shouldn't be allowed to shop as such as the rule doesn't pertain to nudity itself....but is a prevention measure directed for the health of others in mind...and is not discrimination....allowing such actually is.....i want to go topless with her and go shopping haha....love to see the results when we walked into the store. :P

How can I tell my 15 year old daughter her body is private, and no one should touch her or see her when women wall around like this? Is it legal for teenagers or preteens to do this? pedophiles would rejoice. Just because you can doesn't mean you have to. And just because the city says so doesn't make it right. They try to snuff out our 1st amendment, and take away our 2nd amendment, and no one complains because in return they give us "BOOBIES". So pathetic. I am almost sorry I risked my life to defend this once great city.

Yes, it's legal for anyone of any age and any gender to walk around with a bare chest in NYC. If you have an issue with your daughters doing it, then talk to your daughters or set down ground rules. It's not the city's job to take care of your children. This is NYC, not Omaha. If you don't like it, perhaps you should move elsewhere.

I find topless men, anyone, rude and classless, so why would I as a woman want to be equal and do the same! Topless - beach or pool! And since we're on this, pajamas - bedroom or the privacy of your own home! What is this world coming to?!

I believe the NYPOST reported that she just received a settlement of $40k from the NYPD for some situation where she was arrested in the park for this business. Our local or at least used to be local wunderkid Kuby was council per my understanding.

Thrillist: The Best NYC Neighborhood Blogs 2017

Named one of the best NYC Neighborhood blogs in 2016

Named Best Local Website New York 2014 by The Village Voice

Named one of the Essential NYC neighborhood blogs 2014

By the way

Here, you'll find things that you may or may not be interested in about the East Village and other parts of New York City. Appreciating what's here while it's still here. Remembering what's no longer here. Wishing some things weren't here that are here.

We love tips

Have a story idea or tip about something happening in the East Village? Or maybe a photo? Or several photos? Or video! We'd love to hear about it. Or see it. Or something. Please go here to submit a tip.